The replica engines are probably in pretty good condition (or at least cheap to rebuild) and would make fun operating toys for someone.

News stories from today, 9/23/15.

Leaving the station: MSI sells off a few trains
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertain ... story.html


The Museum of Science and Industry Is Selling Its 181-Year-Old Train
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/2015092 ... -old-train

From the preceding post,it can be seen that news of this plan has reached the Chicago media. The two print articles cited don't mention it, but a radio news item said, in effect, they'd be following the recommended practice 6a, quoted at the top of this page:

"a. Use of funds generated from deaccessionings, restricting such use to acquisition of additional objects or care of museum collections. "

The radio item also said they expect to realize about $100,000 from the auction.

This is newsed over other blogs like IRM and others. They should go somewhere where they will still get the museum attention than some private person. I recall being in the cab as a kid, all they had were pictures thru the engineer/fireman's windows looking out front. Today you could virtualize that cab with computers, have the throttle work, brakes, put computer monitors on the windows and make it a real operating experience.

Someone relatively "in the know" on the deaccession of items from MSI in Chicago has recommended to me that anyone interested in encouraging the museum to keep these historic pieces where they are, on public display in one of the most popular museums in Chicago, should contact the president of the museum directly at david.mosena@msichicago.org

They could easily make a display talking the history of railroads, early railroads came from early horse and cart tracks, and from mine runs of push cars.

Is anyone here planning to attend this auction?

Auction results, from the Bonhams web site.

horsecar $41,800
PRR locomotive cab $29,700
John Stevens replica $66,000
"York" replica $212,000
"Mississippi" $220,000

All prices above include premium

Look at my message, Jeff. I said the info came from the Bonhams web site.

Who got what?

Bernie

When I spoke to the Bonhams folks on the phone, they would not reveal the buyers.

Are there any: driving wheel lathes, car wheel lathes, axle lathes, or other RR specific machine tools in that collection that could be up for sale?

unless they have something hiding, I don't think MSI would take those.

who was buy the Mississippi??? I know for the York is great but the Mississippi is most historic no??

I too would like to know where the Mississippi is headed. Its the most historic locomotive in their collection (I'd put it above the 999 honestly, maybe on par with the Zephyr). I'd hate to see it got to a private collection away from public view

I actually am glad they are thinning out the collection though. The Steam locomotive cab, while cool, does not really tell much of a story. I always felt it was out of place. And the Replica locomotives are just that, replica's. They had a large number of engine from a very short period of time, it was crowded. That being said, the Mississippi, being the only real locomotive there, should have been left alone. Yes, its not historic to the area, but it was the real deal. On the birght side, they got a good price for everything.....maybe the transportation hall can get some much needed overhauls to tell a more clear story.